Senator Portman, We need You to Stay

Last week Ohio's Senator Rob Portman announced that he would not be running for reelection in 2022. He gave several reasons for his decisions, including spending more time with family, but one thing he said really stood out and I think speaks to the root issue of the problem with this country right now. He said:

“I don’t think any Senate office has been more successful in getting things done, but honestly, it has gotten harder and harder to break through the partisan gridlock and make progress on substantive policy, and that has contributed to my decision.

“We live in an increasingly polarized country where members of both parties are being pushed further to the right and further to the left, and that means too few people who are actively looking to find common ground. This is not a new phenomenon, of course, but a problem that has gotten worse over the past few decades."

He is right on. The extreme right and left of both political parties and of the general population has got the nation more divided than I have ever seen it. I don't ever see the Democrats deviating from their path towards socialism but I would expect to see the more moderate among them try to rein in the loose cannons who do nothing but antagonize the Republicans rather than seek cooperation, leading to the gridlock that Senator Portman referred to. 

I am even more disappointed in the Republican party. I know that it's still early, but I had hoped to see Trump ride off into the sunset and the Republication leadership show indications of regrouping and a return to normal rational conservative politics but that hasn't happened, at least not yet. Trump didn't disappear. And the Democratic party with their meaningless impeachment trial is keeping him in the spotlight. Maybe historians will care that Trump was impeached twice and that the Senate refused (will refuse) to convict him but that has no bearing on the minds of people living in the present. I have no doubt that Trump views himself as a President-in-exile who will some day return to Washington DC in a triumphal  procession on a flower-strewn Pennsylvania Avenue. I also don't doubt that there are a multitude of Trump supporters both in and out of government who would like to see that happen. I will never understand the reasoning of Trump supporters, but as long as they continue to remain hitched to his wagon the liberals will benefit and independent conservatives like me will see little hope for a resurgence of the GOP anytime soon. 

(Later) Minutes after I wrote the above I read the following:

Washington (CNN) GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger on Sunday announced a new "movement" to push back on the Republican Party's embrace of former President Donald Trump and retire the "poisonous conspiracies and lies" that defined his administration.

In a six-minute campaign-style video posted to the new "Country First" website, which is funded by Kinzinger's Future First Leadership Political Action Committee, the Illinois Republican asserts: "The Republican Party has lost its way. If we are to lead again, we need to muster the courage to remember who we are."

"We need to remember what we believe and why we believe it," he continued. "Looking in the mirror can be hard, but the time has come to choose what kind of party we will be, and what kind of future we'll fight to bring about."

Maybe there is hope after all.

The Written Word

While driving to Chattanooga this morning I was thinking about a book I'm reading, which prompted me to ask Maribel the question, "What is good writing?" We kicked that question around for the 20 minutes it took to reach town, generally agreeing that good writing is determined by the author's intent and the reader's reception. Did the author meet his/her own expectations and those of the reader? Our conclusion seemed reasonable but to me did not seem complete enough so upon returning home I Googled, "What is good writing?" The number of hits was staggering and each of those I read seemed to approach the subject from many different directions, from correct grammar to prosaic style and everything in between. I quickly got wrapped around the axel, more confused than when I started. 

I tend to look at writing as being in one of two categories; informative/educational writing and writing intended to provide pleasure. There is writing that for me crosses over, such as a biography of an historical figure which provides both information and pleasure. My reading about the governmental structure of Botswana would be strictly for information and I might add painful. The Hobbit on the other hand has given me many hours of relaxing, pleasurable escape. 

The book that I am reading and that started this inquiry is Bruce Catton's America. It is a compilation of excerpts from many of his works. The following paragraph is from his book Waiting for the Morning Train, and describes the gradual disappearance of Civil War veterans from Catton's boyhood home.

"In their final years the G.A.R. men (Grand Army of the Republic) quietly faded away. Their story had been told and retold, affectionate tolerance was beginning to take the place of respectful awe, and in Europe there was a new war that by its sheer incomprehensible magnitude seemed to dwarf that earlier war we knew so well. One by one the old men went up to that sun-swept hilltop to sleep beneath the lilacs, and as they departed we began to lose more than we knew we were losing. For these old soldiers, simply by existing, had unfailingly expressed the faith we lived by; not merely a faith learned in church, but something that shaped us as we grew up. We could hardly have put it into words, and it would not have occurred to us to try, but we oriented our lives to it and if disorientation lay ahead of us it would come very hard. It was a faith in the continuity of human experience, in the progress of the nation toward an ideal, in the ability of men to come triumphantly through any challenge. That faith lived, and we lived by it. Now it is under the lilacs." 

There were times in my early life when I thought about being a writer; was in fact encouraged to try it by several of my university professors. But I didn't have the talent, and I knew it. There are so many good writers, and when I read their work and something like Catton's paragraph above it just blows me away. And sometimes it makes me sad. There are two men that I knew and respected. Two men who played a large role in my life and who are now sleeping "beneath the lilacs". They were men who, because of the qualities they had and how they lived their lives deserve to be remembered; deserve to be written about. No one will write about them. I have tried several times over the years and failed miserably each time. I still have hope that maybe someday something will click and I can do the job.

I am glad that there are still books. I will happily go to the internet for information I want, but for pleasure reading I want a real book with paper to smell and pages to turn. An end table with a bowl of popcorn and a lamp with just the right amount of lumens completes the scene.

CNN - Classless Nauseous Noise

I don't have a lot of broadcast options for news in this area so I am often tuned to CNN.  My routine is to ignore their bias, focus on whatever subject they're talking about and then go to other news sources if I'm interested in the issue.  

For the past four years CNN has been extremely critical of Trump and have been ruthlessly vilifying him since the election and especially since the Capitol attack. And though the repetition got old it was deserved. Trump will go down in history as a member of an infamous trio of worst presidents along with Andrew Johnson and Richard Nixon. 

This morning Trump left the White House, boarded Marine One, flew to Joint Base Andrews, gave a brief speech, boarded Air Force One and disappeared as the president into a clear blue sky. And every single moment at each stage the CNN commentators relentlessly attacked. 

Trump is human and I'm sure this was an emotional moment for him. He is probably feeling disappointed, perhaps depressed and I'm sure bewildered at how this could have happened to him. He's hurting and I'm sure that his ignoring the traditional transfer of power customs is an indication of that pain. CNN could have shown some class. They could have mentioned some of his accomplishments but instead chose to continue with their snide comments. They could have let him go in peace. 

I'm watching the pomp and circumstance of the inauguration prior to Biden being sworn in. CNN still is not missing an opportunity to slam Trump. Shame on them. 

 

Been' Wondering about Freedom of Speech

There are so many issues occupying our attention these days; political, medical and financial that I think we sometimes forget the root cause of the political turmoil; that Trump lied to the American people about the election results. Let me back off on that thought for just a moment. 

I am not certain that Trump is lying. I think that he has his own reality...that he really believes that his was the greatest first term ever of any President, that Covid-19 is not as serious as is being made of it, and that he actually won the election. And if he truly believes it then he's not lying. He's mistaken but he's not lying. I can't explain the thinking of the millions of Trump followers who don't see that he's mistaken but that's not the subject of this post.

Questions are being raised about Twitter, Facebook and other platforms that have barred Trump from posting. Have they too much power? Are they limiting freedom of speech? 

With freedom of speech comes responsibility. You don't shout 'fire!' in a packed auditorium.  You don't announce that you're hijacking a plane in mid-flight (unless you're actually hijacking the plane). Saying that you're going to kill the President will get you some serious jail time. And if you're said President, you don't tell the public that you won an election that has been proven over and over again that you lost (here I think the public has some responsibility to examine the facts and use reason and judgement). And you don't use inflammatory language to incite insurrection. And you don't lie about Covid-19. People seem to have forgotten about a Trump pre-election rally where he said, "Covid! - covid! - covid! - covid! - covid!...that's all they talk about! After November 4th you'll never hear about it again!" Well, we're still hearing about it. 

Freedom of speech should be about the non-violent expression of opinions including dissent. It should not include the willful spreading of lies or misinformation or incitement. That is why Trump was banned. Justifiably in my opinion.

Looking at Numbers

There are 231 million adults in this country age 18 and over. According to a recent NPR article there were an estimated 8,000 "rioters" at the Capitol last Wednesday. I take exception to labeling everyone who was there as a rioter but using that number to do the math means that 0.003% of the adult population was in Washington to protest. Looking at it another way, 99.997% of us were not there. 

I still have not seen an estimate of the number of people who illegally entered the Capitol grounds and building, but doubt that it exceeded 500. If so that number represents 0.0002 of the adult population, and 6.25% of the 8000 present. It is those 500 people who are occupying nearly all of our attention since last Wednesday. Do 500 people really represent a threat to the country's security? To democracy? To our individual safety in the streets? Do the actions of 500 people qualify as an 'insurrection' or 'rebellion' as is being referred to? If we had taken proper security measures the violence would not have happened and history would have recorded that there was a peaceful demonstration of 8000 protestors on that day. Nothing more than that.

The wild card at the root of it all is Trump and his supporters. Some 74 million people voted for him...80 million did not. One number we don't have is how many of those 74 million who were not in Washington sympathized with and supported the 500? Certainly the number of Trump supporters has diminished...a recent poll indicates that 56% of those polled want Trump impeached - 43% do not, but he still has a significant number of backers out there. And they are not silent. Maribel and I know people who claim that the mob was paid by the Democrats to storm the Capitol, and lately that Martial Law was about to be declared, though details about who, when and where were missing. Conspiracy theorists are mostly content to flap their gums, posing no danger, but there are some who try to go further; to incite, which, with the help of Trump led to last Wednesday. 

We've grown too lenient with what we will tolerate. The Black Lives Matter movement as of late has inspired some of that. Police and politicians at all levels are bending over backward not to offend anyone. By doing that those of us who abide by the rules and follow the law are being victimized, and democracy is being bruised. Sometimes democracy, if it is to stand needs help. It may be that the '500' did us a service, by showing us that we've become lax. Hopefully we won't repeat that mistake.

(Later) It looks like I have been naïve in my estimation of the number of people involved in the Capitol storming, and in the depth of feeling among the Trumpers. Reports tonight indicate that 12 - 15 Capitol Hill police are being investigated for assisting the rioters. Also, an FBI bulletin reportedly states that evidence exists regarding planning for violent demonstrations in Washington and the capitals of all 50 states. Another troubling thought is that national guard members are citizen soldiers, with regular jobs and regular lives. Since nearly half of the voters voted for Trump, it follows that half of the national guard members also voted for Trump. Can they be trusted to put down an insurrection supporting Trump?  

Who was at the Capitol on January 6th?

They've been referred to as THE rioters, anarchists, domestic terrorists, thugs and thieves, lumping them all together as if they were one single entity. They were not. I have been unable to locate credible numbers regarding the total number of people there and the number who illegally entered the Capitol grounds and building. I have no doubt there there were thousands in total, but as to the number of unlawful entrants - maybe one hundred?..two hundred? I looked at the faces of some of the crowd milling about on Pennsylvania Avenue. Their mannerisms and dress were exactly as those of people shopping at a store...no outlandish costumes, face paint, demonic shouting or carrying of weapons. And many of them had expressions that I interpreted as unsettled or bewildered, as if they were thinking that what was happening was not why they had come to Washington. I have no quarrel with those people. They were exercising their constitutional right to protest. I will never understand why they support Trump or believe the election was fraudulent but I do support their right to peacefully protest. 

As a bit of an aside, I want to talk about media coverage of the event, starting with the video clip that has been seen hundreds of times  showing Trump addressing the crowd before the march on the Capitol took place. The segment aired always contains and is limited to these words:

"...we're going to walk down and I'll be there with you. And we're going to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and women and we're probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them. Because you'll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong." 

These are the words singled out as inciting the crowd to violence. A segment of that same speech that I have never seen aired is where he says: 

"I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard." 

Why doesn't CNN, CBS, FOX, NBC include that last sentence? I'm not a fan of Trump. I didn't vote for him, never wanted him in office, want him out of office and punished now. But he is right about a biased media. In my opinion most of the major broadcast and print media have given up even pretending to be objective news outlets. The video showing Trump praising the crowd after the incident is shown repeatedly, often accompanied by a commentator whose voice is dripping with sarcasm. The lynch mob mentality of the media at the moment  toward Trump and the protesters is not much different from those who entered the Capitol.

I have heard reports that two Portland police officers and several New York firemen were seen in the crowd, which if true is an indicator of the cross section of Americans present. I hope that they, and the vast majority of peaceful protesters will not become the objects of witch hunts. Let's focus on catching and jailing the law breakers, giving the new administration a chance, and getting past Trumpism and the 'they versus us' division it has caused. I'd like to have conversations with my friends and neighbors again where I don't have to weigh every word.

The Proper Role of the National Guard toward Domestic Terrorists

Twitter is reporting that there are indications of more rioting being planned for January 17th. This reporting, plus security concerns regarding the inauguration on the 20th have led to discussions about whether the national guard personnel should have weapons. It is inconceivable to me that someone would actually propose that soldiers carry guns. Armed military personnel? Preposterous! They should be carrying bouquets of flowers instead to offer to the rioters. I'm told that most insurrectionists prefer roses, though daffodils always add a nice touch. Combat uniforms that could offend the 'patriots' should be avoided. Soldiers dressed in shorts, tennis shoes and t-shirts with peace emblems would be more appropriate.

There should be several medical units strategically placed to assist those insurrectionists who might hurt themselves while scaling fences and buildings, removing barriers, breaking down doors or smashing windows. Military kitchen units offering coffee, soup and sandwiches would go a long way to building a good rapport with the mob. After all, storming capitols is hungry work. Lozenges could also be offered to 'patriots' who develop sore throats while shouting, "Hang Pence!" and "Kill Pelosi!" We should do all we can to provide for the comfort of those who strive to "Make America Great Again"

Power to the People?

So here's the scenario. You're a Trump supporter living in Denver and you're upset because you believe that the election was stolen from him and you. What do you do? To begin with you go on the internet to one of the many right-wing Trump sites and see that other outraged Trumpers are planning to protest march in Washington DC on January 6th. You like that so you book your flight and hotel, pack your bags and head for DC. 

When you get there you see that there are thousands of like minded individuals. On the appointed day you join the throng assembling on Pennsylvania Avenue, and learn that Trump has welcomed you, has urged you to march on the Capitol and will be there with you. Your plan was originally to peacefully march to the Capitol, but Trump has asked more of you. He's asked that you march not only to the Capitol but in to it to disrupt the counting of the electoral college votes. He didn't use those words but it's clear to you and everyone else that that's what he means. So you do it. You break through barricades, force the meager security personal to retreat, break some windows and actually enter the Capitol. And once in, you enter individual offices and the house and senate, and force the elected representatives to flee for their lives. You did it! You've saved America! You've made America great again! Your commander in chief will be proud of you. And how were you able to do that? The explanation is simple. One, you don't have respect for laws nor feel bound by them, and two, you don't subscribe to human decency. 

On the other side are the millions of us, with beliefs just as strong as yours, watching in stunned disbelief as you invade our Capitol and disrupt our elected representatives doing their constitutional duty. We have no power to stop you. I have no power to stop you. I am constrained by respect for the laws and the belief in rational human behavior. And right now, at this moment, that is to my disadvantage. You can do whatever you damn please...I cannot. And that is what triggers my rage, the feeling and knowledge that I am powerless to defend my country, to combat the enemies of democracy. There is absolutely no means available to me to stop you. 

About now I can hear the voice of my old civics professor telling me that I do have power...the power to vote for people who will protect the country and who will make sure that the various institutions to protect the country are at the ready. In theory that sounds great, but it didn't work last Wednesday. The intelligence agencies didn't pick up on the magnitude of the impending problem, Capitol security vastly underestimated either the number or behavior of the mob, and when the scope of the problem became apparent there was no plan to rapidly mobilize sufficient force to prevent the intrusion.   

In a way I can understand the succession of failures. Who could have anticipated the vast numbers that showed up, or that the President of the United States would encourage them to invade the capitol, and that they would act like animals? Well, it's over. Hopefully we've learned from it and will never have to witness it again.

What needs to happen now is that every single person who illegally entered the grounds and building needs to do serious jail time. Forget about the formality of due-process. Put them in jail now. It is important that they be made examples of to discourage future occurrences. And speaking of examples, what about Trump? I listened to an interview with Colin Powell yesterday, a man I respect and who has always been the voice of reason. His advise was to forget about the 25th amendment or impeachment and just let Trump finish his term, claiming that no one would follow any irrational orders from him. I agree, except that I believe that Trump needs to be punished, again as an example to future would-be emperors. Perhaps like Napoleon, he could be permanently exiled to a remote island where he could rule to his heart's content. I wonder if Melania would go with him? I would strongly encourage his family and his press secretary Kayleigh McEnany to accompany him.

At first there was Rage

On September 11, 2001 I was living alone and doing something on my computer when a friend called to tell me that a plane had flown into the World Trade Center. I didn't completely understand what she told me and assumed that a small private plane had accidently hit the building. I turned on the TV and slowly realized what had/was happening. I felt the rage boiling up inside of me, and when I couldn't watch the TV anymore went outside and chopped wood. I swung that axe like a man possessed, all the while wishing I had my old uniform and M1 rifle and could get at whoever was responsible for the attack. 

Yesterday, as the magnitude of what was happening unfolded I had those same thoughts and experienced that same rage. I went outside and raked and burned leaves like a madman, all the while wishing I could join the overwhelmed police force with my 9mm in hand confronting those 'patriots' (that's what Ivanka Trump called them). After about four hours I was able to enter the house and talk civilly with Maribel. 

For hours I watched various news sites, all of them broadcasting the same mob footage, and commenting about how unprepared security was, and how the world was watching, and how shameful this looks for America, and how Trump was doing nothing. Trump instigated it...why would he want to stop it? Most of the reporting was peripheral to the immediate concerns. I don't give a damn what Turkey or the UK might be thinking about us, nor do I care to listen to the shocked opinion of a former mail carrier who once delivered mail to the Capital. There is time for that fluff after the scum has been removed from the building and order restored. 

I thought about all the "day of infamy" and "worst day in America's history" comments and at first bought into them, but as I watched the Senate and House return to their places and resume the confirmation process I realized that there is another point of view, that we showed our decent citizens and the world that America can survive and rise above something like this. That the mob of Trumpers didn't accomplish anything outside of disrupting for only a few hours democracy in action. My anger and sadness was gone. It was replaced with pride, and I'm not ashamed to say that I teared up when Pence pounded the gavel ending the proceedings. 

I want to see those who entered the Capital hunted down and jailed. I dismissed any thought about punishing Trump, mainly because he'll be out of office soon, but then I heard a news commentator voice a thought about Trump possibly pardoning the mob members. I don't know if he has the authority to do that but I wouldn't put it past him to try. I hope that the reported talk about removing Trump from office via the 25th amendment is true and that it actually happens. His occupying the Oval Office for even two hours let alone two weeks is not only risky, but is an affront to the office of the Presidency. 

Good ol' Donald!

 I gotta say, I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote in an earlier post that Donald Trump hadn't accomplished anything as President and probably never would. I mean just think about it. He has effectively destroyed the Republican Party, divided the population, lost the White House, lost the Senate, incited an attack on the Capital with his army of 'patriot's' who he loves very much, and successfully avoided having his mental stability questioned until now, when the 25th amendment which allows for the president to be removed when it is judged that he is not capable of performing his duties, is apparently being discussed. And all of that in only four years! And he still has two weeks in office. Stand by.

Immediate Action Required

Democracy is a fragile institution. As has been said before, it carries its own seeds of destruction. Assuming that democracy is self-standing and eternal is a mistake. Without vigilance it doesn't take much for it to drift off path, for example toward socialism of fascism. From a historical perspective the US form of democracy is a relative new-comer, beginning with the constitution some 230 years ago. It's still in a test period. The governments of Egypt, Rome, Greece and others existed for many more years before falling. 

The strength of our system of government, the constitution is being tested now. The President of the United States has asked a state election official to manufacture votes in order to change the outcome of the 2020 election. And a large number of republicans and citizens are rallying to his support. 

There was a time when I was highly critical of Trump but I have softened my opinion. Trump is a man with the maturity of a petulant child. He has his own reality. He actually believes that the presidency and the country are his own personal play things. He can't understand why he is criticized instead of worshiped. He can't comprehend having lost the election. In his world that was simply not possible. 

The people I criticize are those who for whatever reason remain in Trump's orbit and encourage the charade. Tomorrow the congress is supposed to meet to to confirm the electoral votes. And Vice President Pence is supposed to confirm the outcome of the vote and pronounce Biden as the President-elect. But that is not what's going to happen. Instead there are Republican Senators who are lined up to challenge the electoral collage votes. If I remember correctly there are six states whose votes will be challenged. I believe there is a two-hour limit for discussion on each challenge, so there will potentially be twelve hours of discussion probably spilling over into Thursday and maybe Friday. For what is supposed to be a simple short formality recognizing the voice of American voters. Pundits say that even though the histrionics will be an annoyance nothing will change. I am not so sure, but if the process makes it through that stage, the final piece of the process will be Pence acknowledging the outcome of the votes. That is supposed to be his role. There is no provision for him to do anything but that. But what if he doesn't? What if Trump has bullied him into doing something different? Or if Pence has his own agenda? Then what? There is no precedence for that situation. Can't happen? Don't bet on it. I remember a 'can't happen' in the 1960 election when Kennedy, though popular was given no chance to win because he was Catholic, and we can't have the Pope running this country. I hope that the electoral conformation procedure goes as expected; that there will be some turmoil but the constitution will prevail. I hope I don't have to write an I-told-you-so post.

The senatorial election today in Georgia is another cause for concern. The Republican candidates Perdue and Loeffler are Trump puppets. Perdue, instead of denouncing Trump's call to Georgia Secretary of State Raffensperger to manufacture votes, has attacked Raffensperger for taping and releasing the conversation. Loeffler rubber stamps anything Trump says or does. I voted for them. I had no choice. I don't want liberals controlling the House.

In my opinion Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Pelosi, Bernie Sanders and Chuck Schumer would lead us down the path of socialism tomorrow if they could. The thought of Raphael Warnock as a United States Senator scares the hell out of me. I don't know enough about Jon Ossoff to form an opinion but my impression is that he's too far left.

Really, I wish it were possible for all four candidates to lose. I am waiting for the day when the elections of 2020 are settled and behind us. Then I can use the money I've been spending on Tums for something else.

(Later) I just now read that Trump has said that, "The Vice President has the power to reject fraudulently chosen electors." I guess we know what his next move will be. Folks, the constitution is under attack. We are seeing fascism in action. I hope that we have the wisdom to see it and the courage to stop it.